SOE
Active topics
U2 - The Blackout
 Album:
Songs Of Experience (2017)
  1. I just dig it, it's like Bono's talking to people within the song. It makes the hyperbole of the lyrics a little more grounded as if they could be part of a real conversation.

    Spilt milk.
  2. Originally posted by NeonTiger64:Julie and John are a central part of I Fall Down's lyrical story there is a reason to say their names, Mysterious Ways only has a single name Johnny (plus his sister), All Because of You is forgettable...

    But who are Zack, Jack, Ned, and Fred? Seems just like a cheap way to get your lines to rhyme.


    Who gives a f**k, Chuck?
  4. Staying on the subject of the lyrics but switching from the name references...

    I'm probably overthinking it, but to me this song could have three possible layers of meaning:

    1. The end of civilized dialogue and normal processes of democracy/free press under Trump.

    2. In the chorus especially, the line "in the darkness where you learn to see" reminds me SO much of their whole 90s adventure, beginning with the journey into "Night-town" on Zoo TV (as Bill Flanagan put it in "U2 at the End of the World"), going through Zooropa with "no compass and no map" and ending with "looking for the baby Jesus under the trash." Or as Bono put it, U2 moving from the Psalms to Ecclesiastes in a biblical sense, finding true meaning and purpose by first "sliding down the surface of things."

    3. Or, "let's just party hard" as the lights go down - in a club, bar, dance floor, opening song at U2 concert, whatever!

    That's me, anyway. I'm still loving the song.
  6. Originally posted by bpt3:Staying on the subject of the lyrics but switching from the name references...

    I'm probably overthinking it, but to me this song could have three possible layers of meaning:

    1. The end of civilized dialogue and normal processes of democracy/free press under Trump.

    2. In the chorus especially, the line "in the darkness where you learn to see" reminds me SO much of their whole 90s adventure, beginning with the journey into "Night-town" on Zoo TV (as Bill Flanagan put it in "U2 at the End of the World"), going through Zooropa with "no compass and no map" and ending with "looking for the baby Jesus under the trash." Or as Bono put it, U2 moving from the Psalms to Ecclesiastes in a biblical sense, finding true meaning and purpose by first "sliding down the surface of things."

    3. Or, "let's just party hard" as the lights go down - in a club, bar, dance floor, opening song at U2 concert, whatever!

    That's me, anyway. I'm still loving the song.
    Good thoughts... I can roll up all three into one... to quote Jim Morrison- "I'm gonna get my kicks before the whole shithouse comes down"

  7. Originally posted by RattleandHum1988:I just dig it, it's like Bono's talking to people within the song. It makes the hyperbole of the lyrics a little more grounded as if they could be part of a real conversation.

    Spilt milk.
    Exactly.

    a not uncommon literary/poetic device.
  8. After listening to the song a number of times, I have two critiques:

    1. The intro is a little too much like The Miracle, but I feel like it won't be on the album version. Just the sound of it in the video sounds live, Edge and Adam play the note off-time on one of the "plucks", and I'm sure they realize it sounds a bit like The Miracle too (unless maybe it's supposed to).

    2. I love the groovy bridge section, and then the heavy lead-in into the next section, but the next section is almost like a second bridge with the chorus lyric again. It would've been a perfect place for a solo, or even just to go back into the chorus there, it's weird to go BRIDGE - LEAD IN - QUIET CHORUS/BRIDGE - CHORUS. Switch that quiet chorus part out for a solo or just leave it out entirely, it fits oddly to me.

    These are minor though, I'm still digging the song quite a bit
  9. Originally posted by bpt3:Staying on the subject of the lyrics but switching from the name references...

    I'm probably overthinking it, but to me this song could have three possible layers of meaning:

    1. The end of civilized dialogue and normal processes of democracy/free press under Trump.

    2. In the chorus especially, the line "in the darkness where you learn to see" reminds me SO much of their whole 90s adventure, beginning with the journey into "Night-town" on Zoo TV (as Bill Flanagan put it in "U2 at the End of the World"), going through Zooropa with "no compass and no map" and ending with "looking for the baby Jesus under the trash." Or as Bono put it, U2 moving from the Psalms to Ecclesiastes in a biblical sense, finding true meaning and purpose by first "sliding down the surface of things."

    3. Or, "let's just party hard" as the lights go down - in a club, bar, dance floor, opening song at U2 concert, whatever!

    That's me, anyway. I'm still loving the song.
    Oooh, nice analyses. For me, I can't help but think of this show - when the lights go out during Twilight, a song that I've always found is about the end of innocence.
  10. as far as names go,think about 50 ways to leave your lover


  12. There's 'relevant' as in the Taylor Swift kind of relevance, and relevant as in the David Bowie kind of relevance. I meant the former, and of course they should always aim at the latter.